The Druids Challenge 2016 - Part of the Sealskinz Ultra Trail Series

Run or Walk the 84 mile Ridgeway over three days at the Druid's Challenge

Course Records - Nathan Montague 10:02:49, Samantha Amend 10:56:17

The 7th Druid’s challenge, is a fantastic multi-day ultra marathon starting on Friday 11th November 2016, and finishing on Sunday 13th. The route takes in the oldest roadway in the UK, the Ridgeway. Starting in Buckinghamshire, competitors will make their way to Wiltshire over the course of three days, with two overnights in Watlington and Didcot. The Ridgeway path takes in stunning views of quintessential southern English countryside including Ivinghoe Beacon.

As with all of our events, everything is taken care of at the Druid’s challenge so you can focus on the experience! Overnight accommodation, evening meals, showers, breakfast, food and drink at checkpoints, free parking, and even inspiring guest speakers in the evenings are all included.

The three days, fully supported including accommodation and all food is £170. Click to Book now >

Photo from Druid's Challenge 2015

Navigation and Support
The Ridgeway National Trail has excellent markings in the form of signposts or post discs. In addition, you will be given a route card, designed to help on any tricky sections. The event is supported by a Course Manager to maintain event safety and to manage any serious incidents. A fully qualified medical crew are in attendance, to give first aid and to manage any serious medical problems in cooperation with the emergency services.

Overnights
You'll stay at Icknield Community College in Watlington on the first night and St Birinus School, Mereland Road, Didcot, OX11 8AZ on the second night, with sleeping accommodation in a large hall.

What's included
Car parking
A fully recced route designed to make the event special and challenging for all
Event t-shirt
Start/finish WC facilities including showers at the overnight locations
Overnight accommodation in a school hall on the Friday and at a leisure centre on Saturday night
An evening meal on Friday and Saturday evenings, and breakfast on Saturday and Sunday morning
Checkpoint food and water throughout the event
Tea, coffee and cake for all competitors at the finish area each day
All permissions needed for the event granted, safety & medical cover throughout the event
Medal awarded to each finisher
Prizes awarded for the winners
Results reported on-line
Guest speakers in the evenings
Free photos after the event!

Full event no acccommodation or food £116
Single day £58
Accommodation and food £30 per night.
Please Note: A 3% service charge, levied by this registration software, will be added to your final amount.

Guest speakers 2016

Marina Ranger - Ultra runner
Marina's journey for adventure and running started in the January of 2013 when she won a competition to take part in the Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon. The KAEM is a self-supported, 250 km multi-stage race in the Kalahari desert. She joins us at the Druid's to talk all about her experiences as an ultra runner.

Rory Coleman - MDS Performance Coach
Rory has run the Druid's an astonishing 13 times! Join us to hear him talk about his experience alongside 13 years of Marathon Des Sables experience.

Registration and Starting times
The start times are Walkers 10:00, main runners 11:00 and elite runners (estimate sub 10+ min/mile) 12:00. Registration takes place at Tring Cricket Club, London Road, Tring, HP23 6HA(SP 931116) There is limited parking at the Cricket Club, but there is Tring station nearby and we will be doing shuttles from the station to registration. If you are coming by car, you will be able to park at the station car park at a cost. Please check the cost

Accommodation
Day 1 - Watlington College
Day 2 - St Birinus School, Mereland Road, Didcot, OX11 8AZ
Both days we will be sleeping in large halls
Please note that there are discounted rooms should you wish to stay overnight on Sunday at the Principle-Hayley Hotel (Single occupancy bed & breakfast @ £55.00 Inc VAT, Double/twin occupancy bed & breakfast @ £65.00 Inc VAT) . just quote the discount code "extreme" to take advantage of this discounted price.

Transport

Trains - Friday 11 November:

The Terminus is the London Euston Station which is on the Northern underground line.

The train is from Euston to Tring. Trains take about 35 minutes. The first train departs at 06:54 next 07:52, 08:55, and 10:01.

Mini-bus shuttle from Tring Train Station in the morning prior to the start times and transport you to registration. Evening pick up from Princes Risborough station available after 1800. Please let us know your arrival time.

Sunday 13 November: Trains go from Swindon station to London Paddington Station.

We transfer runners from the finish hotel to the station with 3 buses.

Mini-bus shuttle from the finish to Swindon mainline station as and when we have enough people to make a journey. It is only 20 mins away so we can do this quite regularly.

Other options

The mini buses and some cars will need to head back to the Tring area once the event is completed on the Sunday afternoon / evening. We would be able to transport some people in this way. You will need to be patient with us as we close the event down.

Our suggestion would be that you organise your own transport so that you don’t have to wait, but we will do all we can to accommodate individual requirements.

​Handy Downloads

Day 1 / Day 2 / Day 3
Full event insructions to download can be found at the top of this page.

Volunteer

Would your friends or family like to volunteer if they are coming along to support you? Or do you know anyone who would like to make the magic of this event happen? All volunteers get free race entry the following year, food, accomodation and a free buff. To register, click here.

Questions? Say hello on info@xnrg.co.uk

Share this with friends

At a glance

Event date: 11th-13th November 2016

Route: The Ridgeway, Bucks, Berks.

Where: Tring Cricket Club, London Road, Tring, HP23 6HA(SP 931116)

Distance: Single day options. Note: No transport to "starts" or "finishes" on individual days.

Ascent: 2203 metres

Price: £165, single days £58

UMTB Points: 3 points awarded

Event details download:

What people think about our events...

Thanks for a great weekend I enjoyed myself immensely, the camaraderie and willingness to help the runner’s needs at all costs was superb. Met some lovely people working alongside at the checkpoints ( a great laugh at checkpoint 4, day 2 lads !).
So just to say thanks again to the XNRG team.
Best of luck to Neil on the Yukon ultra.
Hope to see you again maybe IOW ultra or next Pilgrim.
Best wishes
David Hayles

Hi everybody
I would like to congratulate XNRG on a superbly well run event in the Chilterns. It was a fabulous day out in stunning countryside. Everything went like clockwork, registration, briefing and the course was marked perfectly with tape, signs and sometimes quite elaborate pictograms sprayed on the ground making the maps supplied only necessary as an overview of the route.
I find it quite mind boggling that you can plot and mark such a varied and interesting course in 31 miles of countryside, check it and then clear up afterwards. It made the entry fee worth it alone

Hello Neil
Just thought I'd let you know that I feel really spoilt with my first Ultra
What a great race, well organised, superb markings, with an unbelievable & friendly crew. Please pass on my thanks for making it such a fun day. Having you there personally congratulating everyone crossed the line was a nice touch!
I lost count of the number of people who mentioned that your events are the best Ultras.